LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on Hamza Shehbaz and the Punjab government for not submitting their responses to petitions challenging the PML-N leader’s election as the chief minister.
In previous proceedings, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti had sought replies from the aforesaid by May 25 on different petitions filed for declaring the contest held on April 16 for the chief minister’s CM’s slot in Punjab Assembly as null and void.
The CJ had also sought the input of the respondent’s lawyers on “whether the Supreme Court’s decision about defecting lawmakers will have the retrospective effect”. The petitions had been filed by the PTI’s lawmakers including Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi.
During the hearing today, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti said that adhering to court orders was mandatory for everyone in every situation and, hence, fined the respondents.
During the proceedings, the additional advocate general and Hamza’s counsel requested the court to grant them time to submit the responses.
PML-Q’s lawyer objected that the matter shouldn’t be delayed any further, contending that Punjab was functioning without a cabinet and the province was undergoing a constitutional crisis.
Justice Bhatti, however, said that the case couldn’t proceed without listening to the arguments of the respondents. “Once the responses are submitted, we will hear the case on a daily basis,” he added. The hearing was then adjourned till May 30.
Pervez Elahi’s petition
Out of 197 votes obtained by Hamza, 25 votes belonged to members of PTI. The aforesaid 25 members of PTI cast their votes in favour of Hamza instead of Ellahi which was contrary to the directions of the parliamentary party.
Ellahi further prayed the court to declare that respondent Hamza was not the chief minister of Punjab as he had not secured the requisite number of votes as required under the Constitution.
All consequential actions taken by the Hamza in his purported capacity as the provincial chief executive and all and any other communications made, orders passed or notifications issued be set aside and declared to be null and void, the petition further prayed.
The petition further prayed that directions be issued for holding fresh elections for the post of Punjab chief minister according to the Constitution and the law. The oath administered to Hamza be set aside, it added.
